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# ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT 6 -- ADMISSIONS
The program shall have implemented an admissions policy that as a prerequisite for admission into the professional program requires the satisfactory completion of at least two academic years (60 semester credits/90 quarter credits) of education at the baccalaureate level that is appropriate preparation for graduate level work, or the equivalent (e.g., certification in a medical profession requiring at least the equivalent training of a registered nurse or a physician's assistant), from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
Criterion 6.1 Assessment of prior learning A maximum of 30 semester credits (or 50%) of the prerequisite two year education requirement may be earned through prior learning assessment using either or a combination of the following assessment techniques: (1) credit by examination through the use of standardized tests and/or (2) assignment of credit for military and corporate training based on recommendations established by the American Council on Education.
Guideline: Credit by examination can be earned through successful testing and the recommended college credit equivalencies of the College Scholarship Service's AP (Advanced Placement) examinations, the College Scholarship Service's CLEP (College Level Examination Program) examinations, the American College Testing PEP (Proficiency Examination Program) examinations, PONSI (N.Y. State Department of Education Program on Non-collegiate Sponsored Instruction), the USAFI (U.S. Armed Forces Institute) program, and the DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) tests.
Guideline: Credit for military and corporate training may be assigned according to the recommendations established by the American Council on Education in The National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs and the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services.
Guideline: The program should inform students, who are awarded credit through prior learning assessment, that some state licensing agencies and some institutions may not accept prior learning assessment credits that have been awarded by a non-regionally accredited institution
Guideline: The program may accept credit toward its admissions requirement that has been awarded by portfolio assessment or may accept >50% of credit toward its admission requirement earned through Credit By Examination if that assessment was performed and credit was awarded by an institution (other than the institution itself) accredited by an institutional agency recognized by the Secretary of Education.
Criterion 6.2 Transfer credit The program may accept transfer credit toward the professional program that the program judges to be equivalent to its requirements for graduation from the professional program; however, at least one academic year required for completion of the professional program must be taken in the program granting the certificate or degree designating successful completion of the professional program.
Guideline: Admissions standards should reflect that, only those applicants who can achieve the educational objectives of the program, should be accepted into the program.
Criterion 6.3 Policy publication The program's admissions policy, including policies for evaluating transfer credit and prior learning, must be clearly stated in institutional publications.
Criterion 6.4 Policy planning The admissions policy must involve careful planning to determine whether it is serving the needs and interests of its students, and how it could be doing so more effectively.
Guideline: In situations beyond the control of a foreign applicant, when transcripts and documents are not available to confirm completion of prior postsecondary education, a special admissions procedure may be employed, on a case by case basis, to determine the level of education earned and/or what additional preparation will be required in order to meet the admissions standard.
Criterion 6.5 Advanced standing The program must demonstrate an acceptable process for assuring equivalent competence in the acceptance of transfer and prior learning credits.
Guideline: A statement of the applicant's prior experience, which may be considered as an equivalency to part of the entrance requirement or to the program's requirements, should be articulated and filed, along with the applicant's materials, when the applicant is accepted, and before any classes are commenced.
Guideline: All prior learning and transfer equivalencies should be established, and credit granted, by the end of the first year of enrollment in the professional program, or the student should be dropped from the program.
Guideline: Assessment of prior learning and transfer credits should be completed by persons qualified to make such assessments.
Guideline: In considering the acceptance of education and training obtained in foreign countries, the program should obtain advisory assistance from a reputable foreign credentials assistance agency for the interpretation of foreign educational credentials to assist with approximating comparable levels of educational achievement in the U.S.
Criterion 6.6 Prerequisites The program must show evidence that it has developed appropriate course prerequisites and that students enrolled in a course have completed all prerequisites.
Guideline: All courses in a program should have the same prerequisites if they are to later be converted to credit courses.
Criterion 6.7 Recruitment The program must observe honest, ethical and legal recruiting practices.
Criterion 6.8 English language competency (a) English language competency must be required of all students seeking admission to the program taught in English. This may be satisfied by scoring at least 500 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and at least the currently reported mean score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE); (b) For those who shall complete the program in another language, a TOEFL score of at least 450 must be obtained and a mean score on the TSE, or the student must have completed a two year (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) baccalaureate level education in an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education or from an equivalent English language institution in another country. Applicants who do not satisfy this requirement may be considered for admission with English as a second language, but they must satisfy the proficiency requirement in English before beginning the clinical experience.
Criterion 6.9 Enrollment Participation in courses in Oriental medicine (including studies in acupuncture and herbal therapies) presume two years of accredited postsecondary education at the baccalaureate level prior to enrollment in such courses. Non-matriculated students must meet all entry requirements and course pre-requisite requirements for participation in particular courses with the exception of physical exercise courses such as Chi Gung and Tai Chi which may be open to the general public. Programs must have clearly defined policies with respect to allowing non-matriculated students to take courses and must ensure that their participation does not adversely affect the quality of instruction. (Effective for students entering after 8/1/97)
Criterion 6.10 Retention and Graduation Rates If the program’s student retention rate falls below sixty-five percent (65%) or if the program’s graduation rate falls below fifty percent (50%), ACAOM shall review the program to determine if it remains in compliance with the accreditation criteria. (In trial status)
# ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT 7 -- EVALUATION
The program shall demonstrate and provide evidence of an evaluation system that provides information to the student and the program of a student's educational progress including indicators or measures of clinical acupuncture competence, and if applicable, herbal therapy competence.
Criterion 7.1 Outcomes measurement The program must evaluate the effectiveness of its training and the accomplishment of its stated objectives by measuring and documenting the achievement of a sufficient number of students and graduates in verifiable and internally consistent ways.
Guideline: The program should perform annual evaluations of its structures and curriculum in relation to its mission and philosophy.
Guideline: Student evaluation of courses and faculty should be considered in determining whether the program is meeting its objectives.
Guideline: Retention rates, rates of academic delinquency, completion rates and average length of time students take to complete the program should be calculated, maintained and used to measure the outcomes of the program.
Criterion 7.2 Academic policies and procedures Policy and procedures regarding student academic progress and grading must be fair and consistent and published and made available to students.
Criterion 7.3 Measurement of student achievement The evaluation of student achievement must be applied systematically throughout the training and must employ a variety of measures to assure the acquisition of knowledge, core skills, competence, behaviors and attitudes that are necessary at each stage of clinical training, and ultimately, to achieve expected performance as an independent practitioner.
Guideline: The evaluation of clinical instruction should take into account the knowledge, skills, understandings, attitudes, traits, achievements, personal and professional conduct, patient relationships, clinical laboratory facilities, equipment, and environment which are required for good professional acupuncture or Oriental medical practice.
Guideline: Examinations, quizzes, papers, and internship evaluation should be used to document the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Guideline: Each level of clinical training should have clear objectives to indicate when achievement is attained.
Guideline: The program and faculty should have an effective and efficient system to monitor students as they progress through clinical training. Students who have problems should be identified early, and such weaknesses should be documented and communicated to the student and other relevant persons (clinical director or where appropriate, the academic officer). Remediation or dismissal, if necessary, should occur in a just and timely manner.
Guideline: A central person (clinical coordinator or academic dean) should be responsible for collating the variety of evaluative information obtained during the clinical training and for overall student tracking.
Criterion 7.4 Assessment of graduates' success The program must make a systematic effort to record the professional career development of its graduates.
Guideline: Current information about graduates, their results on licensing examinations and their acupuncture or Oriental medical careers should be maintained.
Guideline: Graduates' evaluation of course material and its effectiveness in their careers should be secured periodically.
Guideline: Indicators of potential good performance of top graduates should be determined.
Criterion 7.5 Application of acquired data The evaluation data acquired must be applied systematically to enhance student learning.
Criterion 7.6 Standard measurement Equivalent methods and standards of evaluation must be applied to students at all institutional sites, including externships.
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